Book Week a community event

ST. ALOYSIUS Catholic Primary School Queenscliff has found an innovative way to celebrate Book Week and bring the community together.

The primary school usually hosts its Book Week within the school grounds, but this year the students will take their costumes on a Book Week Walk down Hesse Street in Queenscliff, on Wednesday October 21.

The idea for the celebration comes from St. Aloysius teacher and librarian Angela Ritchie, who believes it’s an important time for people to feel a sense of community.

“It’s all about connecting, by bringing the school to the community,” she said.

“We can’t have the parents come in, so we thought we would go out.”

Usually held in August, Book Week was created by the Children’s Book Council of Australia in 1945 and has run annually to encourage reading and to celebrate Australian literature for children. This year’s theme is Curious Creature, Wild Minds. As well as encouraging literacy, this year’s unique Book Week will also encourage parents to support local business, while maintaining appropriate social distancing.

St. Aloysius students from Year 3 to Year 6 will line up in single file along the footpath, with posters to be displayed in shop fronts advertising the occasion.

Matt Davis is the owner of The Bookshop at Queenscliff on Hesse Street, he says he’s looking forward to supporting the event.

“We think it’s a great idea, we’ll be giving the school some gift vouchers to encourage kids to spend time reading.

“Anything to do with literacy, especially for young people, is always interesting to us.”

Ninety-five students will take part in the parade, and Ms Ritchie is hoping this year’s Book Week can make a big difference to the local area.

“If we can get a smile on the faces of some people that have had to be isolated and get people out on their verandah to see the kids walk past, well how fantastic would that be?”